Bristleworm or fireworm?

[Brad Coughlan]

 

[mtfish]

This looks like a normal bristleworm. On fireworms, you would see white hairs (setae). Good part of your clean up crew.

 

[Maebh]

I vote regular bristleworm too

 

[Brad Coughlan]

That's a relief, thanks!

The redness in it gave me a bit of a scare, I think it is just the 1 in there I have.

 

[exnisstech]

The redness in it gave me a bit of a scare, I think it is just the 1 in there I have.

I don't think I've ever seeing just one bristle worm lol. I think the population self controls by the amount of food available and I feed heavy so I have a lot. I had no idea how many I had untill I moved tanks and there were hundreds living under the rocks.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

That's a relief, thanks!

The redness in it gave me a bit of a scare, I think it is just the 1 in there I have.

First, "bristleworm" is a broad term/category that includes about a zillion members (give or take). Since most of the species that resemble your photo can cause pain if touched, many biologists consider no distinction between a "regular bristleworm" and a "fireworm". Most "fireworms" are good cuc members... only a few species, in particular Hermodice carunculata- the bearded fireworm- are detrimental in our tanks because they eat coral. See below for an example.
While it's not as uncommon to find the predatory worms as it used to be, unless you've added rock from a gulf of Mexico vendor, it's still very unlikely you will find any bristle/fireworm that's not a beneficial critter.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://oceanconservancy.org/blog/2024/05/23/what-bearded-fireworm/&ved=2ahUKEwjl5bjA78qHAxWM_8kDHVSJDtkQFnoECGUQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0f19U4Pvo23fwdjV7ud0yv

 

[Brad Coughlan]

First, "bristleworm" is a broad term/category that includes about a zillion members (give or take). Since most of the species that resemble your photo can cause pain if touched, many biologists consider no distinction between a "regular bristleworm" and a "fireworm". Most "fireworms" are good cuc members... only a few species, in particular Hermodice carunculata- the bearded fireworm- are detrimental in our tanks because they eat coral. See below for an example.
While it's not as uncommon to find the predatory worms as it used to be, unless you've added rock from a gulf of Mexico vendor, it's still very unlikely you will find any bristle/fireworm that's not a beneficial critter.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://oceanconservancy.org/blog/2024/05/23/what-bearded-fireworm/&ved=2ahUKEwjl5bjA78qHAxWM_8kDHVSJDtkQFnoECGUQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0f19U4Pvo23fwdjV7ud0yv

Thanks for the info

I used dry rock, the bristleworm came in on a GSP frag, that I did dip but still got in somehow, not sure how